Eagles' rookie Graham makes lasting impression

Just met Brandon Graham for the first time a few minutes ago here at the NovaCare Complex and came away impressed by his personality, which is at least partially why the Eagles traded up 11 spots to take him with the 13th overall pick of the NFL Draft last night.

Graham revealed to us that he quit football the first time he took a hit from a bigger player. He was 7 years old and running the football and was basically run over by a 10-year-old.

"My daddy was mad at me," Graham said.

Eventually Darrick Walton convinced his son to give it another shot. From that point forward, it was Graham who was doing most of the hitting -- often with a smile.

"I'll hit somebody and smile right over 'em," he said. "Let 'em know I'm coming on the next play."

Graham also had a brief weight problem when he ballooned to 300 pounds at the end of his senior year in high school. That happened because he was declared ineligible for spring athletics after participating, against Michigan high school rules, in the US Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

He reported to Michigan at 290 and was down to 280 by the start of his sophomore season. Still too fat, according to his coaches. By the end of that season he was down to his current playing weight of 265 and never had a problem again.

Graham won't be here for the entire mini-camp next weekend because he will have to return to Michigan after Friday's practice for graduation ceremonies.